Balls of fiber oe sliver



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. LEE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BALLS 0F FIBER 0R SLIVER.

No. 399,909. Patented Mar. 19. 1889.7

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(No Model.) 3 sheets -sheet 2.

W. B. LEE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BALLS 0F FIBER OR SLIVER. No. 399,909; Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

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(No Model.) 9 3 Sheets-Shet a.

W. B. LEE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BALLS OF FIBER OR SLIVER. No. 399,909. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BROADLEY LEE, OF BRADFORD, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR FORMING BALLS OF FIBER OR SLIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,909, dated March 19, 1889. Application filed March 22, 1888- Serial No. 268,119- (No model.) Patented in England August 2'7, 1887, No. 11,668-

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM BROADLEY LEE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Bradford, in the county of York, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Balls of Fiber or Sliver, (for which a patent was granted to me in Great Britain, No. 11,668, dated August 27, 1887,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improved machinery for forming balls of fiber or sliver, and has principally for its object to drive the plates or disks and the spindle for receiving the fibers by means of toothed wheels in such manner that when the ball of fibers has attained a certain dimension the speed is retarded, so as to obtain a more regular tension of the fibers than hitherto, thereby insuring a more certain action than has hitherto been the case where friction-plates have been employed for driving.

The invention also has reference to mechanism for easing back one of the plates or disks of the machine, so as to facilitate the liberation of the ball of fiber or sliver when finished.

In order to enable my invention to be fully understood, I will proceed to describe how the same can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a balling-machine constructed according to my invention, the parts of the machine being shown in the position they occupy when a ball of fiber or sliver has been wound, the said ball, however, not being shown. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are a horizontal section and a partial vertical see tion on the lines A B and O D, respectively, of Fig. 1, part being in elevation. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the plates or disks of the machine, showing the mechanism for easing back one of the said disks, and also showing the spindle on which the ball of fiber or sliver is wound, the said arrangement of parts being shown detached from the machine. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the said spindle.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.

A A represent the two side frames of the machine, through which passes the drivingshaft D, working in bearin gs E. The shaft carries the fast and loose pulleys F and G, respectively, and also the pinions H and J, which engage with the toothed Wheels formed or fixed upon the sides of the plates or disks K and L, which are thereby caused to revolve. It is necessary to regulate, as far as possible, the speed of the plates or disks K and L as the ball of fibers increases in diameter, and I accomplish this object by moving the driving-belt from the pulley F to the pulley M, (by an arrangement hereinafter described,) which pulley M is formed integral with the sleeve N, (shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 1,) which revolves freely upon the shaft D. To the other end of this sleeve is fixed the pinion O, which engages with the spur-wheel P, which is mounted upon the same shaft or spindle as the pinion Q, and the pinion Q engages the gear J on the driving-shaft D.

\Vhen the belt is on the pulley F, the plates K and L are caused to revolve at a comparatively high speed at the commencement of the operation of balling. The belt is then moved onto the pulley M, which brings the sleeve N, carrying the pinion 0, into operation, whereby a slower speed is produced when the ball is becoming of large diameter. This result is accomplished by the reducing-gearing consisting of the pinions O P Q. The pinion 0 being of less diameter than the pinion P, and the pinion Q being of less diameter than the pinion P, they cause a reduction of the motion communicated to the shaft P through them in a well-known way.

For the purpose of changing the speed of rotation of the ball of fiber in winding by alternately placing the belt on the pulleys F and M, as aforesaid, pressing-rollers U (or a pressing'plate) are mounted in the upright arms of the L-lever X, and are held in contact with the surface of the ball (shown in dotted lines at c, Fig. 2) by the Weight WV, fixed upon the end of the short arm of the said lever X. lVhen the ball of fibers has been about half formed, the weight W will have risen half its course, and will have lifted the two rods Y and Z, of which the rod Y, being the longer, comes in contact with the under side of the end of the powerful flat spring-bar A, thereby lifting itout of a notch, f, formed in the cross-bar B. The spring-bar A is then allowed by the mechanism hereinafter described .to come in contact laterally with the stud C, fixed upon the sliding rod D, which actuates the belt-fork E and changes the driving-belt from the pulley F onto the pulley M, the said bar A being then caused to move back into its notch. hen the ballof fiberhas been fully formed, the weight W will have risen as far as possible, and the upright rod Z then lifts the end of the springbar F out of the notch g. The said bar then strikes the stud 011 the rod D and causes the said rod to move the driving-belt onto the loose pulley G, when the ball can be removed. The rods Y Z, it will be seen, when in their highest position extend above the notches f g, and if they were rigidly attached to the weight \V they would, when in such position, prevent the forcing of the springs A F into these notches. In order to avoid this, and to enable these springs to be returned to their retaining-notches when desired, without regard to the position of the rods Y and Z, these latter are pivoted to the weight NV at y and z. and springs 11 and .2" are secured to the weight and bear against the lower endof those rods. It will be seen that whenever the spring A is moved in the direction of the retaining-notch f, should it come in contact with the rod Y, the latter will yield laterly and permit the spring to enter the notch f. The like result will occur in forcing the spring F into the notch g, and as soon as the weight is lowered, so that the ends of the rods Z and Y pass below the springs F and A, the rods will be returned to their proper position by the springs ,2" and y. V

In order to force the spring-bar A back into the notch f in the rod B, I provide the following mechanism, viz: A toothed wheel, h, is pivoted at 11 to one of the side frames of the machine, the said wheel being driven from the driving-shaft D by a pinion, j, and provided with a peripheral flange, 71., which is cut away, so as to form an opening at 71?, one edge of the said opening being left square and the other curved or inclined, as shown clearly in Fig. 4. The inner face of the wheel 7L is provided with an inclined or cam' piece, 70, which serves to operate or move a lever, Z, by means of a roller, m, attached to the said lever, as hereinafterdescribed. The lever Z is pivoted to a bracket, 71, attached to one of the side frames of the machine, and is provided near its pivot with an upward extension, Z, which carries a pivoted arm or dog, 0, having an adjustable point or end, 0,which is normally adjacent to the face of the flange h of the wheel 71.. At the outer end of the lever Z is fixed a forked stud, p,which engages with the end of the spring-bar A; The spring-bar F is forced back by the lever .I. This lever is provided at its outer end with s rin -bar A is released from its notch as t) hereinbefor'e mentioned, it will, by reason of its attachment through the forked stud p to the lever Z, cause the said lever to move the end of its arm or dog 0, so as to bear against the flange h of the wheel h, which, constantly revolving, will present the opening 712, so that the end 0 of the arm 0 will pass through, thereby allowing the spring-bar A to strike the stud C and shift the driving-belt from the pulley F onto the pulley M, the roller m at the same time being moved nearer to the face of the wheel h. The wheel h, still revolving, will cause the pivoted arm 0 to mount on the flange 71/, by means of the curved or inclined end ofthe latter, the said arm maintaining this position until the cam-piece 70 comes against the roller m and causes it to force the lever Zback into its former position, thereby pressing back the spring-barA, so as to engage with its notch and at the same time allowing the arm or dog 0 to drop into its former position adjacent to the face of the flange 7L on the wheel 72 The feed-rollers are represented at M and N, Fig. 2, supported by the bracket 0. The top roller, M, can be raised up clear of the bottom roller in an are from the center P, the roller M being supported,by means of the link Q, pivoted at the center P.

The mechanism for easing back the plate or disk K, so as to liberate the ball of fiber or sliver when finished, is represented at Figs. 1. and 5, and consists of a lever, to, pivoted on a sleeve, b, attached to the boss of the disk K. The boss of the lever a is provided with two projections or inclined pieces, 0 c, which, when the ball of fiber o1- sliver is being formed, bear against the face of the bearing (Z, in which the sleeve Z) is mounted. \Vhen, however, the ball of fiber or sliverhas been formed, if the lever to be moved or turned, so as to cause the projections to enter two notches, c e, in the face of the bearing (Z, the disk K may be moved or eased back a corresponding distance, so as to facilitate the liberation of the said ball of fiber.

In place of a bobbin I wind the fiber or sliver on a spindle, a which passes through the disk K to the plate L. The plate L is provided with a stud or spindle which enters a bearing on the frame and revolves therein. The plate K has an opening in the center for the passage of the spindle a therethrough, and is provided with the sleeve 1), which is journaled in the bearing (Z. The sleeve Z) extends to nearly the outer end of the bearing (I, and the outer end of said bearing is nearly closed, an opening being left therein sufficient to allow the outer end of the spindle a to pass freely therethrough. The spindle a at a point near the outer side of the plate K is provided with a shoulder, and is of slightlyaeduced diam eter from that point to the outer end. This portion of the spindle is provided with a gain or groove which engages a spline, h, or projection on the interior of the sleeve 1), so that the spindle is caused to rotate with the sleeve 1) and the disk K. The portion of the spindle extending between the disk K and the plate L is tapered, as shown in Fig. 5, to facilitate its withdrawal from the completed ball, and it is grooved externally, as shown. in Fi (3, to prevent the fibers from being drawn through the disk K with the spindle when it is removed.

In order to start the spindle easily when it is desired to remove the same from a completed ball, one end is made to extend outward through the opening in the end of the sleeve and bearing ('1, and is screwthrezuled, as shown. A hand-wheel, R, having a screwthread through its hub, is placed on the screwthreaded portion of the spindle. hen it is desired to remove the spindle, the hand-wheel R is turned till the center or hub comes in contact with the outer end of the hearing (I. A further turning of the hand-wheel serves to start the spindle and draw it a little way from its original position in the completed ball. Owing to the spindle being tapering in form, as soon as it has been moved a little distance by the hand-wheel R it can be readily withdrawn by pulling outwardly upon the wheel. 'When the machine has been brought to a standstill at the completion of a ball by the transfer of the band to pulley G, the operator turns the hand-wheel R, starting the spindle a from the ball. As soon as the spindle can be easily retracted, it is drawn outward as far as the construction will permit. The lever a. is then turned to permit the outward movement of the disk K and the completed ball removed from the machine. The disk K and spindle a are then returned to their operative position and the machine started again by moving the belt-shipper to carry the belt onto the pulley F. A movement of the lever'L will replace spring 1 in its retaining-notch, as before stated. I do not, however, confine myself to the use of the above-described spindle, as it is evident that the usual bobbins can,if required, be employed in my improved balling-machine.

By the use of my improved machine I can make balls of fiber or sliver of about double the weight of those made by machines as hith-' out and putting in another set of balls. The balls being heavier will last longer than usual, thus causing considerably less Waste, whereby a saving in carding, backwashing, and preparing over will be effected.

It is well known that a comb makes more noil and less top when the balls are running out. It will therefore be seen that I eifect a considerable saving, besides enabling the comb to run about double the length of time without the necessary stoppage for introducing fresh balls. The balls being heavier but no larger than those heretofore made, the sliver is more uniform and the dabber of the combing machinery can do its work more effectively and easily, besides which a saying in brushes will be found to be effected.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a machine for forming balls of fiber or sliver, the combination, with the disks K L, provided with gear-teeth, of a driving-shaft having pinions gearing with the teeth of said disks, a pulley rigidly mounted on said sh aft, a sleeve loosely mounted on the said drivingshaft and having a pulley and a pinion mounted thereon, and intermediate reducing gear connecting said sleeve-pinion with one of the pinions on the main shaft, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for forming balls of fiber or sliver, the combination, with disks K L, of a driving-shaft operatively connected with said disks, a pulley rigidly connected to said shaft, a pulley loosely mounted on said shaft, red ucing-gearing connecting said loose pulley and the shaft, a sliding rod and a belt-shipper connected thereto, a spring, A, a bellcrank lever, X, and the tripping-arm Y, connected to said lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the disks K L, of a driving-shaft operatively connected there with. a sliding bar, an d a belt-shipper mounted thereon, spring A, bell-crank lever X, and tripping-arm Y, connected with said bellcrank lever, substantially as described.

1. The combination, with the disks K L, of a drivin g-sh aft operatively connected with the same, fast pulley F and loose pulleys G M on said shaft, reducing-gearing connecting said loose pulley M with said shaft, a sliding rod, a belt-shipper connected thereto, springs A and F, adapted to move said rod in opposite directions, bell-crank lever X, and tripping arms Y and Z, of different lengths, connected with said lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with a driVingshaft, of a sliding rod provided with a belt-shipper, a spring adapted to move said rod in one direction, a retaining device for said spring, a cam, and gearing for actuating it connected With the driving-shaft, and devices connecting said cam with said spring, whereby the said spring is moved to a position to effect the proper move- IIO ment of the belt shipper when released from its retaining device, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the driving-shaft, a sliding rod provided with a belt-shipper, a spring adapted to move the rod in one direction, a lever engaging said spring, and a wheel provided with a cam in gear with the drivingshaft for moving the lever and spring in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a driving-shaft, of a sliding rod provided with a beltshipper, a spring adapted to move said rod in one direction, a lever engaging said spring, a wheel provided with a cam in gear with the drivingshaft and having a flange on its periphery broken away at one point, an arm pivoted on the said lever and engaging said flange, and a tripping-arm for said spring, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the bearing d, of the disk K, provided with the sleeve 19, mounted in said bearing, and the spindle a longitudinally movable in said sleeve 1), the said sleeve and said spindle being provided the one with a groove or gain and the other with a spline engaging the same, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the bearing d, of the disk K, provided with the sleeve b, mounted in said bearing, the spindle a 1ongitudinally movable in said sleeve, the said spindle being screw-threaded at its outer end, and a hand-Wheel, R, substantially as described.

10. The combination, with the bearing (Z, having its inner end provided with notches, as described, of the disk K, journaled in said bearing, and the lever a, provided with projections corresponding with the recesses in the bearing (Z, mounted on the journal of disk K, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with the spring-bar F, of the lever J, provided at its outer end with an incline, the shaft provided Wit-h the arm K, lever L, and devices connecting it With said shaft, substantially as described.

WILLIAM BROADLEY LEE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM ASHTON, RICHARD KEIGHLEY. 

